Cat Losing Hair? Here Might Be The Reasons Why

If you’ve found yourself vaccuming cat hair off your couches, carpets, curtains, clothes more often than usual – you might find yourself wondering: is my cat losing hair? Am I seriously dealing with a case of cat alopecia here – or is it normal?

And yes, to an extent, some amount of hair shedding is 100% normal for cats. (Just like it is for us.) But in other cases, your cat might be losing hair due to a serious underlying health issue. So with this spectrum of possibilities, let’s break down the reasons you’ve got a cat losing hair all over your home – and how you can catch on to an illness early by keeping an eye on how well they’re sleeping, plus the impact this has on their energy levels.

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Why is my cat losing hair?

Hair loss in cats is medically referred to as “alopecia” – and in many cases, it’s due to multiple causes. Here are some of the (slightly) less concerning ones:

• Age
  With kittens, it’s more common when they’ve just been born.¹
• Breed
  Some cat breeds are inherently “hairless” – like Sphynx cats. Other cat breeds are born with thin coats which they eventually lose over time (like Siamese cats). Still others (like Cornish Rex cats) are born with full coats, which eventually sheds over time.
• Habits
  Outdoor cats might get into fights with other cats (and animals) over territorial disputes. Which might lead to a few “battle scars” – including their fur.
• Pregnancy
  In pregnant cats, hormonal changes might trigger some hair loss. Which usually isn’t permanent and may regrow.

Now one of the first concerning signs if you’ve got a cat losing hair is if you notice some patches of their fur thinner than the rest of their coat. Plus, if you’re observing your cat losing hair on top of other symptoms of sickness – that’s when it makes sense to drop by your local vet.

All of which can signal that your poor cat’s struggling with an allergy, infection, or some other serious health condition. Because in adult cats, hair loss may also be likely because of:

A change in routine

Boredom, stress, and anxiety can all cause your cat to overgroom themselves.² Which, with time, might lead them to develop scabs and lose hair in patches around their body. This could be a change in routine like you shifting apartments, bringing home a new pet (or baby) or your neighbors beginning a construction project. Or if your outdoor cat now has to stay indoors, they might feel bored and frustrated from the lack of enrichment.

Anxiety

Psychogenic alopecia is a behavioral issue where your cat might overgroom themselves due to anxiety.³ In fact, grooming helps calm your cat down – it’s comforting in the same way Mama Cat might’ve done it when yours was still a kitten. It can help relieve their anxiety when they feel “threatened” (either by your new puppy or the vaccum next doors.)

On top of this, if your cat is dealing with an infection, allergic reaction, or pain – it can cause them stress as well. (Leading to more overgrooming – and more hair loss.)

Pain

If you’re now wondering – my cat has patches of fur missing and sores…what gives? – it might be due to pain. In fact, overgrooming a specific part of their body might lead to hair loss as your cat tries to relieve pain in that area.⁴ So a cat with joint pain might overgroom a particular limb – or even end up with a bald spot on their sides or belly from a stomach ache.

An Activity Tracker for cats can help you spot a drop in your cat’s activity early on – which might signal something’s wrong. So you can detect health issues early and get them to a vet before they worsen.

Infection

Alopecia in cats might also be caused by infections – especially from these common sources:

• Bacteria, including Staphylococcus
• Yeast, including Malassezia
• Ringworm
• Parasites (including ticks, fleas, lice, and mites)

Even if yours is primarily an indoor cat, they’re still vulnerable to these pesky critters in your home. All of these infections tend to make your cat itchy – so they might bite, scratch, and overgroom themselves until you’ve got a serious case of cat hair loss at hand.⁵

Besides, your cat might be likely to pick up an infection from other animals they encounter (both indoors and outdoors), contaminated surfaces, including food and water bowls, toys, bedding, and even you – since viruses and bacteria can often cling to our clothing and transfer on to our pets (though not the other way round)

So if your cat likes to wander the outdoors, it’s possible they’re venturing into areas riddled with parasites. (Like fleas and ticks – that tend to be most active around spring, summer, and fall.)

Read more: How To Prevent & Get Rid Of Ticks On Cats (For Good)

Allergies

Besides infections, another reason you’ve got a cat losing hair all around your house might be allergies.⁶ These include:

• Environmental allergens, like pollen, dust, or common household items like cleaning fluids and the like.
• Other parasitic critters, like fleas. In fact, Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD) is a common cause for itching and overgrooming in cats. Your poor cat might even end up vomiting up a hairball from swallowing so much of their fur!
• Food allergies to specific ingredients, which tend to be less common in cats – but which can cause them to scratch and groom themselves excessively.

Read more:

• Cat Food Allergies: What To Watch Out For
• Cat Pollen Allergy: What To Do If Your Cat Is Allergic to Pollen
• What Can Cats Not Eat? (And Why Not?)

Medical conditions

Finally, a whole range of health conditions may cause your cat discomfort – leading them to overgroom themselves and lose their hair as a result.⁸

Including:

• Urinary tract infections (UTIs), which involve an inflammation of their bladder, kidneys and/or other urinary organs. Watch out for signs like your cat peeing around the house – or too little in general.
• A gastrointestinal disease, which might cause stomach pains and upset. Your cat might lick their belly areas excessively as a result, leading to patches of hair falling out.
• An infection of their anal organs, which might lead your cat to “scoot” or drag themselves around the floor on their butts.
• Hyperthyroidism, which might also cause your cat to be restless and more hyperactive than usual.
• Cushing’s disease, which is less common in cats, but includes symptoms like hair loss, itching, and skin infections.
• Cancers, including lymphoma and pancreatic carcinoma.
• Diabetes, where skin infections and slow-healing wounds might be common.
• Pancreatic, liver, and adrenal disorders, all of which are linked to more fragile, easily irritated skin in cats.

Read more:

• UTI in Cats: Signs, Symptoms & Steps You Can Take
• Why Is My Cat Peeing Outside Of The Litter Box?
• Cat Drinking A Lot Of Water? Here’s Why.

How your vet might diagnose & test for cat alopecia

Your vet will start by thoroughly examining your cat for fleas, ticks, and mites. If your cat mostly has hair loss around the base of their tails and lower back, it could be fleas. Below the tail hair loss could signal an infection of their anal organs.⁹ Once that’s done, your vet might perform these diagnostic tests:

• A skin biopsy, or surgically removing a small patch of your cat’s skin to view under a microscope.
• Skin scraping to look for other parasites.
• A blood and/or urine test to rule out health issues like hyperthyroidism or diabetes.
• Allergy testing, including with an elimination diet trial. Your vet might prescribe you a special, hypoallergenic diet for your cat instead.
• Ultrasound imaging to rule out any signs of cancer.

Only once your vet has ruled out all other causes, they might also consider psychogenic alopecia as another possible reason.

Treating alopecia in cats

Now based on what turns up at your cat’s checkup, your vet might prescribe you a solution meant to tackle the underlying cause of their hair loss.

Medical treatments for cat hair loss

• Using a special cone collar can help prevent your cat from biting or scratching at any infected skin. This can help your cat’s skin heal and their hair regrow.
• Medications, including antihistamines, can help reduce itching.¹⁰
• Antibiotics can help target specific fungal infections that cause itching and discomfort.
• Medicated shampoos can help tackle parasitic infections.
• An 8-12 week elimination diet, where you remove specific ingredients from your cat’s meals and observe their reactions.
• Steroid creams can also help reduce itching when you apply it to the spots your cat’s been grooming. (Just make sure to prevent your cat from licking off the cream! Here’s where a cone collar can come in handy.)

Home treatments for cat hair loss

• Do a thorough cleanup of your home to get rid of fleas, ticks, and mites. Clean your bedding and other surfaces your cat tends to sleep on. Double check that their food and water bowls are clean and aren’t being shared by other animals.
• Make sure your backyard isn’t too overgrown. (As pests like ticks tend to thrive in thick vegetation.)
• Help your cat reduce their stress with tons of attention, cuddles, playtime, and keeping them occupied while you aren’t around. Scratching posts and food puzzles can keep your cat from getting bored or lonely when you’re not at home.¹¹

• Brush your cat’s coat regularly to prevent any matting or tangling. (Which can be a breeding ground for pests.)
• Monitor what your cat’s been eating. Many harmless (and even healthy) human foods can make cats very sick and trigger an allergic reaction. Cat food brands that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids can help improve their skin and promote healthy hair growth.

How to spot an illness in cats early

With a little vigilance, you can catch on to a change in your cat’s behavior early. (Which might signal something’s wrong – whether from sickness, infection, or pain.)

But how does that look like in practice? After all, it’s not like you can monitor your cat 24/7 – especially if you actually have shifted apartments or have work, chores, and family to deal with.

So you could:

• Jot down your cat’s symptoms and behavioral changes in a notebook to share with your vet.
• Take a video while your cat is grooming themselves – to catch whether they’re targeting any specific body part (like their tail, rear ends, or elsewhere)
• Monitor your cat’s level of energy throughout the day. If they seem more reluctant around playtime or just seem to be in a slump, it could be a warning sign.
• Use an Activity and Sleep Tracker for cats to keep tabs on their daily movement and sleep quality. A sudden drop in your cat’s activity or a change in their sleep patterns could signal something’s wrong.

With its built-in motion detector, your trusty Tractive device picks up on your cat’s movements throughout the day. (Including while they’re asleep!)

Which can help you figure out:

• What’s a normal amount of activity for your cat
• What’s a normal amount of sleep for your cat
• Whether there’s been an abnormal change in either
• How your cat is doing compared to other, similar cats around the world based on their breed and age

With this data at hand, you won’t need to rely on memory or risk forgetting some important details at the vet’s. Which, in the long run, may even help save your cat’s life.

Get health alerts for your cat

Our cats can’t always tell us if something’s wrong. But if their tracker detects unusual changes in their routine, you’ll get an alert, helping you catch potential issues early.

Shop Cat Trackers

Want a vet’s take on why your cat might be losing hair? Here’s Dr. Kim Hammond from the Falls Road Animal Hospital weighing in:

And if you’ve liked this post, share it with a friend or a loved one – and let’s help build a safer, kinder world for our furry friends together.

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Your furry friend’s health and wellbeing means as much as to us as it does to you. So we’ve made it a priority to only share medically-relevant content on our blog.

This post was checked, double-checked, and medically verified by Georgia-based vet, Dr. Dwight Alleyne.

Originally from Long Island, New York, Dr. Alleyne began his career at a no-kill animal shelter before becoming a licensed veterinary technician. He graduated from Cornell University Veterinary College in 2006 and completed an internship at Purdue University.

Now practicing in Georgia, Dr. Alleyne specializes in soft tissue surgery and ultrasounds. He also writes pet health articles on his website, “The Animal Doctor Blog” (www.anmldrblog.com).